A PLEA has been made for mini roundabouts on the main route through Littlemoor, Weymouth.

Ward councillor Louie O’Leary said that the two junctions off Louviers Road with Littlemoor Road are already struggling to cope with the volume of traffic, which will get worse with the construction of 500 homes, currently under way to the north of Littlemoor Road and more also likely on the south side of the road.

He told Thursday’s Dorset Council meeting that the estate is busy with existing homes, a school, busy shopping centre and play facilities.

Cllr O’Leary said: “Extra strain is going to be put onto the these two junctions which are already struggling. I know the cabinet member (for highways, Cllr Ray Bryan) is aware and we have discussed it in the past but as building is under way will Dorset Council commit to action on these congested junctions in the form of mini roundabouts at both ends, or other possible measures?”

But the Weymouth councillor’s plea fell on deaf ears.

Cllr Bryan told him that highways experts believed there was enough capacity at both junctions, even with the extra homes being built, and the unnecessary use of mini roundabouts was not considered best practice.

Cllr Bryan said: “The junction capacity modelling undertaken as part of the Local Plan transport base, and separately by the developers, shows the two junctions of Louviers Road with Littlemoor Road continue to work well within their capacity even with the additional traffic generated from the developments. There is no evidence that alternative junction types are required. The development proposals include a new pedestrian and cycle crossing facility across Littlemoor Road to the east of Canberra Road to provide an additional connection to the facilities at the local centre and further south. The site is connected by public transport and with active travel routes to give residents a choice about how they travel.

Mini roundabouts aren’t recommended for where traffic calming is a concern, as drivers often cut across the middle of the roundabout if there’s nothing physically preventing them from doing so.”